Category: All Website News
Lightning storms moving across Idaho causing multiple fires
(Boise) – Lighting storms with multiple strikes have resulted in fires in north and north central Idaho. Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) and Timber Protection Associations firefighters are following up on reports of smoke and in many cases are just now reaching the fires. Drones have stopped the aerial attack on one fire near Kamiah putting homes at risk. Limited information is currently available.
Mission Flats Fire – IDL Cataldo Forest Protection District
This 20 acre fire is near the Cataldo Mission west of the boat ramp, but the mission is not immediately threatened. No other structures are threatened. The fire has not jumped the freeway or the river. I-90 eastbound near Cataldo is currently down to one lane and people are asked to be cautious but keep moving. Multiple aircraft, equipment and personnel are fighting the fire.
This fire district is also responding to a number of reports of smoke.
Butte Creek Fire – Clearwater-Potlatch Timber Protective Association (CPTPA)
This fire is estimated to be between 80-100 acres burning in timber and logging slash and is located near Butte Creek in Clearwater County. No structures are currently threatened. Multiple aircraft, engines and ground resources are currently battling this blaze. A Type 2 Interagency Management Team has been ordered for this fire.
A flight over the area revealed at lease 12 fires within the protection area, with 4-5 more fires near the Butte Creek Fire estimated to be 5 acres or less.
Shovel Creek Fire – IDL Craig Mountain Fire Protection District
Fire crews are just arriving at the scene of this 90 acre fire that is burning in grasses with a high spread potential. Some structures are threatened. This fire is near Corral Creek near the Nez Perce and Lewis County border.
Hoover Ridge Fire – IDL Craig Mountain Fire Protection District
This fire is estimated to be about 10 acres burning in timber is near the oxbow of the Salmon River. Multiple air resources are currently working on the fire. There are at least 3 other small fires and fire crews are investigating multiple reports of smoke.
Ridgewood Fire– Maggie Creek Fire Protection District
A drone operator has put homes at risk on the Ridgewood Fire, located about 3 miles south and east of Kamiah. Because of the drone, multiple air resources had to stop dropping water on the 5-10 acre fire burning in timber, brush and steep terrain. Homes are located above the fire and crews are trying to keep the fire from going up the steep hill toward the homes. No evacuations have been ordered.
Multiple aircraft, engines and ground resources are currently fighting this fire.
Big Horse Fire – Maggie Creek Fire Protection District
This 40-50 acre fire is burning at the head of Big Horse Canyon near Kooskia in timber on the edge of agricultural land with homes nearby. No evacuations have been ordered. This is the fourth fire in this area within the last week. Multiple aircraft, engines and ground resources are currently fighting this fire. A Type 3 Interagency Management Team has been ordered for this fire.
The public is reminded to not use drones anywhere near wildland fires as fire planes cannot fly when a drone is flying, putting firefighters, homes and resources at risk. Fire resources are spread thin and there is the threat of additional lightning storms throughout the week across the state. Many regions are considering fire restrictions. With drought conditions and High to Extremely High Fire conditions throughout the state, the public is reminded to take every precaution to prevent wildfires.
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#IdlFireInfo
Find the latest IDL Fire updates on our website-based IDL Fire News Feed and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
CONTACT:
Sharla Arledge
208-334-0233, fireinformation@idl.idaho.gov
About IDL Fire: Idaho Department of Lands Fire Management (IDL Fire) in partnership with two Timber Protection Associations and with the support of rural volunteer fire departments and other partners, are responsible for fire suppression and prevention on more than 6 million acres of state and private forests and rangelands in Idaho. IDL Fire focuses on initial attack with the goal of keeping fires at 10 acres or less. IDL Fire protects and preserves important endowment timber assets that help fund Idaho schools and other beneficiaries, as well as millions of acres of private forestland. The map below shows the different Forest Protection Districts in Idaho.
Idaho Department of Lands seeks public input on new grazing rate proposal
(Boise) Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) is looking for public input on a proposal that would update the grazing rate methodology for the first time since 1993.
Last October, the Idaho State Board of Land Commissioners (Land Board) unanimously directed IDL to conduct a comprehensive review of the model used to set fees for grazing on more than 1.7 million acres of endowment land across Idaho. As a result of that review, IDL will recommend a new approach for determining the market rate for grazing on endowment land.
The recommendation will be brought to the Land Board as an informational item at its July 20, 2021, meeting. The board is not anticipated to act on IDL’s recommendation until September.
The new grazing rate proposal, along with background information, research and a public comment form are available on a new IDL webpage at https://www.idl.idaho.gov/leasing/grazing-farming-conservation-program/grazing-rate-review/. Public comments and suggestions to improve the proposed new model will be accepted until 5 p.m. (MT) on Friday, September 3, 2021.
The proposed model nets non-fee grazing costs against the USDA National Agricultural Statistic Services (NASS) published private Animal Unit Month (AUM) grazing rate for Idaho, then expresses the endowment grazing lease rate as a percentage of that NASS private lease rate.
For comparison, the current year endowment grazing fee is $7.07 per AUM, or 38% of the NASS private rate for Idaho. Under the proposed new model, the rate for 2022 may increase to $10.73 per AUM, which is 58% of the published NASS private rate.
Formula complexity and volatility has been an issue for decades when determining the market rate for grazing on endowment lands. The new approach would rely on transparent, defensible published data and would incorporating periodic reviews to ensure the endowment grazing rate tracks with market over time.
If approved, the change would likely generate an additional $900,000 in revenue each year for Idaho’s endowment beneficiaries, which is primarily public schools.
Idaho land management agencies urge public to help prevent wildfires and reduce risk to property in face of extreme conditions statewide
A joint news release from the Idaho Department of Lands, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Idaho Firewise
Federal and state land management agencies in Idaho are urging the public to take all precautions to prevent human-caused wildfires, and property owners to take steps to reduce the risk of wildfire to their homes and land, in the face of extreme statewide conditions outlined in a new outlook released by the National Interagency Fire Center today.
The National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook predicts that the potential for significant wildland fires will be above normal in the entire state of Idaho in July and August, and forecasts it to remain above normal in southern and central Idaho through September. This is due primarily to expected continuing widespread drought and above average temperatures.
Over the last three years, a total of more than 1,900 human-caused wildfires have burned more than 500,000 acres in Idaho according to National Interagency Fire Center statistics. So far in 2021, more than 300 human-caused wildfires have burned more than 8,800 acres of land in the state.
“We are currently facing the most challenging wildfire conditions we’ve seen in Idaho in a long time,” said Dennis Strange, State Fire Management Officer for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). “The 4th of July holiday is a time when we often see an uptick in human-caused wildfires with lots of people spending time in the outdoors. We really need the public to take all steps possible to prevent human-caused wildfires because with these conditions wildfires may spread very quickly and could be very difficult to control.”
The BLM, USDA Forest Service, and Idaho Department of Lands remind members of the public that fireworks are prohibited on all lands managed by these agencies throughout the state of Idaho at all times. Individuals who ignite fireworks on lands managed by the BLM, USDA Forest Service, and Idaho Department of Lands could face fines and jail time as well as be responsible for paying the costs of suppressing wildfires the fireworks cause.
The BLM, USDA Forest Service, and Idaho Department of Lands urge members of the public who are planning to head to lands the agencies manage to check before they leave home to find out if any fire restrictions are in place in the areas they will be visiting and if so to abide by them. Federal and state land management agencies will implement Stage 1 Fire Restrictions on lands within south central Idaho (Blaine, Camas, and Custer counties) effective Friday, July 2 at 12:01 a.m. Additional Idaho fire restriction information is available online at http://www.idahofireinfo.com/ or by calling 1-844-ID-FIRES (1-844-433-4737).
The BLM, USDA Forest Service, and Idaho Department of Lands also urge members of the public who will be camping this weekend to ensure that they take the proper items with them, including a shovel and bucket, to ensure that they can put their wildfires “dead out” before leaving their campsites. Information about how to pick a campfire spot, prepare a campfire pit, build a campfire, and maintain and extinguish a campfire is available online at https://smokeybear.com/en/prevention-how-tos/campfire-safety .
In addition, the BLM, USDA Forest Service, and Idaho Department of Lands urge members of the public to take steps to use and maintain vehicles and outdoor equipment in ways that prevent sparking a wildfire. Information about vehicle safety and lawn care is available at https://smokeybear.com/en/prevention-how-tos/equipment-use-and-maintenance .
Over the last 10 years, wildfires have burned a total of approximately 675 homes and other structures in Idaho. Information about how to make homes fire resistant, how to create fire resistant landscapes, and how to evacuate if needed during a wildfire is available at https://idahofirewise.org/ .
Information about current wildfire activity in Idaho is available at http://www.idahofireinfo.com/ ; InciWeb (https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/ ) and on BLM, U.S. Forest Service, and Idaho Department of Lands websites and social media platforms.
From the Director: You can drastically alter our wildfire risk
Op-ed for consideration for publishing from
the Idaho Department of Lands director
By Dustin Miller, Director of the Idaho Department of Lands
We know the Smokey Bear saying by heart: Only you can prevent forest fires. But every year, nationally, around 80% of wildfires are caused by humans. That jumps to more than 90% of fires when you look at what the Idaho Department of Lands has responded to this year. It could be a thrown cigarette, a campfire left burning, dragging chains, parking on dry grass. Or as we go into the holiday weekend, sparks from fireworks. The list goes on.
They say accidents happen. But this year there is no room for mistakes. The public is moving in greater numbers to Idaho’s outdoors. Temperatures are soaring, and 80% of Idaho is currently in drought, with that percentage and drought intensity expected to grow. Our beautiful state is at risk of burning up.
The reminders to prevent wildfires are hard to miss, be it from the Idaho Department of Lands or our partner agencies. Among them: Make sure your fire is dead out. Don’t drag chains or drive vehicles on dry grass. Be careful when target shooting. Don’t use illegal fireworks. There are too many reminders to include here.
However, despite the abundance of these messages, and the ever-ready online resources, brochures, news reports, social media posts, and pleas to prevent wildfires, human-caused fires still occur in alarming numbers. They outpace lightning-caused fires nearly every year.
So given all of this, who can reverse this trend? Only you.
Only you can prevent a fire that burns through your favorite camping area by making sure your campfire is out before you leave.
Only you can prevent cabins and homes from going up in flames by properly using fireworks in clear areas and following local fireworks restrictions.
Only you can prevent the thick smoke of raging wildfires from filling the skies by not throwing a cigarette out a car window.
Only you can prevent a wildland firefighter from suffering heatstroke while battling a blaze in 100-degree heat by not parking on dry grass and sparking a blaze.
Only you can keep our wildland fire crews home safe and reserve them for the wildfires that start beyond our control.
Only you can save the life of a wildland firefighter who may be among those to respond to a human-caused wildfire.
The Idaho Department of Lands is ready for this wildfire season. We have increased our staff and our wildfire resources. We are stationed strategically to aggressively fight fires when they are first reported. Controlling fires quickly, before they grow, saves valuable natural resources and tax dollars. We have stopped 90% of fires at 10 acres or less.
We are doing our part to protect Idaho from wildfire. But we need your commitment to help prevent accidental fires. We need you. Only you.
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CONTACT:
Robbie Johnson, Idaho Department of Lands
208 908-1786
pio@idl.idaho.gov
Fourth of July fire safety in the Idaho Panhandle – “Know Before You Go”
A joint news release from the Idaho Department of Lands, U.S. Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management
(Coeur d’Alene, ID) – With the Fourth of July holiday approaching, public land managers across the Idaho Panhandle want to remind visitors that fireworks, and the possession of fireworks, are prohibited on federal public lands, regardless of weather conditions or holidays. Exploding targets and other pyrotechnic devices, such as Tannerite, are also prohibited on federal public lands in Idaho administered by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. Drought conditions, unseasonably hot temperatures, and high fire danger levels are affecting many parts of northern Idaho. The National Weather Service office in Spokane describes this week as “likely [to] be one of the most extreme and prolonged heat waves in the recorded history of the Inland Northwest [that] will make our region increasingly vulnerable to wildfires and intensify the impacts of our ongoing drought.”
Each year, fire officials see a spike in human-caused wildfires, particularly around the Fourth of July and Labor Day weekends, most often from unattended campfires, fireworks, dragging tow chains, driving on dry grass, and improper disposal of hot ashes and BBQ coals. To date, in the five northern counties of the Idaho Panhandle, there have been 88 wildfires, 76 of which were human-caused. Please remember these fire prevention tips when visiting ALL public lands:
- Know before you go – Check online (IdahoFireInfo.com) or call about any fire restrictions or closures before venturing out. Several areas around Idaho are in or entering fire restrictions, which limit the use of fire.
- Drown your campfire – Make sure your fire is “dead out” and cold to the touch before leaving your campsite or going to bed. Keep your campfire small and use a designated campfire ring when available and permissible.
- Leave the fireworks at home – Fireworks are prohibited on federal public lands. During closed fire season (May 10 to October 20), it is illegal to throw away any lighted material, including fire crackers or fireworks on any forest or rangeland in the State of Idaho. (Idaho Code 38-117) Starting a wildfire by the use of fireworks is considered negligence, and the person who started the fire will be billed for the cost of fighting the fire. (Idaho Code 38-107)
- Don’t be the spark – Do not drive or park on dry grass. Hot exhaust pipes or sparks can start a fire.
- Check your chains – When pulling a trailer, be sure safety chains and other metal parts aren’t hanging from your vehicle as these can drag and cause sparks.
Land management agencies are committed to a balanced fire program that will reduce risks and realize benefits of fire at the right time and place. Prescribed fire and fires for resource benefit are managed under very strict criteria, when both the science and resource availability align. Unfortunately, human-caused fires in populated areas and the wildland-urban interface are most commonly responsible for evacuations and property damage. This holiday weekend and always, do your part to prevent human-caused starts. Don’t let your summer go up in smoke!
See more wildfire prevention and preparedness tips at: https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/fire-prevention-education-mitigation
*Photo Credit: National Interagency Fire Center. Photo by Mark Thonhoff, BLM
Governor Brad Little declares Idaho Department of Lands ready for wildfire season with extreme weather this weekend
(Boise, Idaho) – Right now 80% of Idaho is in drought, which is nearly five times the drought area recorded at this time last year. Idaho Department of Lands Fire (IDL Fire) is boosting fire resources this year with increased fire engine staff, additional use of drones for more efficient fire suppression, and has kept 90% of fires at 10 acres or less.
Yesterday, Idaho Governor Brad Little visited the IDL office on State Street in Boise, home of one of 10 IDL Forest Protection Districts that provide fire suppression for state and private land. The visit comes after the State Board of Land Commissioners, which Governor Little chairs, heard IDL Fire’s report on wildfire readiness for the state.
Broadcast-quality video showing the sights and sounds of the tour are available for download here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/hvll9qh5txvzld6/Video%20Jun%2024%2C%209%2019%2059%20AM.mov?dl=0
“With extreme weather conditions upon us, Idaho Department of Lands resources are ready and stationed strategically to aggressively fight fires when they are first reported,” Governor Little said. “We are able to keep fires small because of our experienced staff and our use of aircraft, but also thanks to our partners who are often the first to report and respond to fires on state and private land. We all need to be smart and do our part to prevent wildfires this summer. While recreating and enjoying our public lands, I urge all Idahoans to be thoughtful in doing everything we can to prevent unnecessary fire starts.”
This year, the Governor recommended the Legislature appropriate a onetime transfer of $20 million to the Fire Suppression Deficiency Fund to ensure IDL has the resources necessary to combat fires on 6 million acres of private, state, and federal lands in Idaho. In addition, the Governor recommended and the Legislature appropriated $1.1 million in total funds and 11 new positions to augment the fire program and ensure the state is maximally prepared to respond to and investigate fires.
IDL Fire works in partnership with two Timber Protection Associations and with the support of rural volunteer fire departments, Rangeland Fire Protection Associations and other partners.
Other 2021 IDL Fire Facts
• 140 firefighters hired this year
• 29 fire engines are available with an increased engine staff
• 6 drones with infrared cameras and 9 pilots are ready to detect wildfire hot spots, making wildfire fighting more efficient
• IDL is using a water additive to make air drops more accurate and effective
• IDL Fire has already responded to 105 wildfires that burned 438 acres on state and private lands protected by the Idaho Department of Lands
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Find the latest IDL Fire updates on our website-based IDL Fire News Feed
and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Idaho Department of Lands Firefighters Stop 90% of Fires at 10 Acres or Less
(Boise) – Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) firefighters have already responded to 99 wildfires that burned 433 acres on state and private lands protected by the Idaho Department of Lands. The department provides fire suppression and prevention on more than 6 million acres of state and private forests and rangelands across Idaho.
IDL firefighters and crews from the Clearwater-Potlatch Timber Protective Association and Southern Idaho Timber Protective Association have held 90 of those fires to less than 10 acres, with many of the fires contained at less than an acre.
This hard-hitting initial attack is crucial in a year where, according to National Interagency Fire Center meteorologists, 80% of Idaho is currently in drought and the rest of the state will likely be in drought in the next several months. Controlling fires quickly, before they grow, saves valuable natural resources and tax dollars.
“It’s early in the fire season, and we’ve already seen three times as many acres burned this year over the 20-year average,” said Josh Harvey, IDL’s Fire Bureau Chief. “Unfortunately, 95% of these fires were human caused and could have been prevented. We are ready to suppress fires, but we need the public to help us by not starting wildfires.”
The number of fires to date and drought conditions indicate the 2021 fire season may be a very challenging.
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Media Contact: Sharla Arledge | PIO | 208-334-0286 | pio@idl.idaho.gov
Unique endowment land auction brings in a sale price of $35.2 million
(Boise) – Two adjacent agriculture college endowment parcels amounting to 282 acres adjacent to Caldwell’s Vallivue High School and Middle School sold today for $35.2 million, plus a buyer’s premium of $1,408,000 with a total cost to the buyer of $36,608,000.
The parcels are in one of the fastest-growing counties in Idaho and were expected to bring in competitive bids above the minimum appraised value of roughly $6 million. There were 12 bidders. The winning bidder was Endurance Holdings, LLC who bought both parcels, which are designated for low-density residential use in the City of Caldwell’s Future Land Use Map.
A broadcast-quality video of the final moments of the auction is available for viewing/download at: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ndcjx4r1sfyquwn/Video%20Jun%2011%2C%201%2043%2005%20PM.mov?dl=0.
Reason for the auction: The University of Idaho has leased the parcels for agricultural research purposes since the 1940s, but the University recently sold the training facility adjacent to the land. The preference was to reinvest in land that will facilitate a new Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (CAFE) located in the Magic Valley. The State Board of Land Commissioners agreed to the auction after determining that it would bring the highest net sales proceeds to the beneficiary. At statehood, Idaho was granted endowment land for the sole purpose of financially supporting specific institutions.
“This auction was incredibly valuable because the land was no longer supporting the University’s research facility and the revenue generated from the farm lease on the land was nominal,” said Josh Purkiss, Idaho Department of Lands Real Estate Services Bureau Chief. “It was the right time to sell this land in the best interest of the endowment beneficiaries.”
Bidders had to deposit $250,000 per parcel in cashier checks to qualify to bid at the auction. It was held Friday, June 11 at 12:30 p.m. at the Marriot Courtyard, located at 1789 South Eagle Road in Meridian, Idaho. Corbett Bottles Real Estate Marketing facilitated the auction.
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Media contact
Robbie Johnson – Idaho Department of Lands Public Information Officer
208-334-0236/ 208-908-1786
rjohnson@idl.idaho.gov
Unique land auction in Caldwell could generate at least $6 million
(Boise) – Two side-by-side endowment land agriculture parcels amounting to 282 acres sit mostly unused adjacent to Caldwell’s Vallivue High School and Middle School. The parcels are in the direct path of growth in one of the fastest-growing counties in Idaho.
Endowment lands are unique: At statehood, Idaho was granted endowment land for the sole purpose of financially supporting specific institutions. The parcels up for auction were designated to benefit the University of Idaho and are managed by the Idaho Department of Lands.
Reason for the auction: The University of Idaho has leased the parcels for agricultural purposes since the 1940s, but the University would rather have the property auctioned for residential development to generate greater revenue. The State Board of Land Commissioners agreed to the auction after determining that it would bring the highest financial return to the beneficiary.
“This proposal makes sense because right now the land is no longer supporting the University’s research facility and the revenue generated from the farm lease is nominal,” said Josh Purkiss, Idaho Department of Lands Real Estate Services Bureau Chief. “With the current high demand for land, and the prime development nature of these parcels, this has the potential to be a very exciting auction for the endowment beneficiaries.”
Auction details: Both parcels are designated for low-density residential use in the City of Caldwell’s Future Land Use Map. Bidders must have $250,000 per parcel in cashier checks to qualify to bid at the auction. It will be held Friday, June 11, 2021 at 12:30 p.m. at the Marriot Courtyard, located at 1789 South Eagle Road in Meridian, Idaho. Details can be found at Corbett Bottles Real Estate Marketing.
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Media contact
Robbie Johnson – Idaho Department of Lands Public Information Officer
208-334-0236/ 208-908-1786
rjohnson@idl.idaho.gov
Idaho’s State Forester to speak before Congressional Committee on Natural Resources
(Boise) – Idaho’s State Forester Craig Foss will discuss the relationship between drought, wildfires and forest health before a House Committee on Natural Resources subcommittee on Tuesday, May 25, 2021 in Washington D.C. Representative Russ Fulcher (R-ID) invited Foss to speak before the Western Drought Forum titled, “The status of drought conditions throughout the western United States.”
Idaho’s national forests comprise 80% of the state’s total forestland. Of federal forestland suitable for management, more than 8 million acres are in declining condition, leaving them at high risk of insect and disease and wildfire mortality.
As State Forester with the Idaho Department of Lands, Foss oversees the forestry and fire programs for the state of Idaho. Foss will share about Idaho’s efforts and goals through Shared Stewardship and Good Neighbor Authority agreements to double the number of acres treated and restored on our most at-risk federal forestlands. Adjacent state, industrial and family forestland will also be treated, assuring landscape-scale forest health improvements.
“Managed forests are healthy forests, better able to withstand wildfire, pests, and drought, and more capable of storing carbon, providing clean air, water, wildlife habitat, economic and recreational opportunities, and countless other benefits,” Foss said. “Forests, water and people are dependent on one another.”
Foss says it will take many years to address the extensive work needed to restore forested watersheds in Idaho and throughout the west. Foss will stress the need for consistent national policy support.
“It will require increased funding for climate change research, active forest management, wildfire mitigation, increased use of prescribed fire and reforestation,” said Foss.
The subcommittee meeting will be held Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at 11 a.m. MST. (1 pm EST) and can be seen at https://naturalresources.house.gov/hearings/remote-wow-oversight-hearing_may-25-2021.
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Media Contact: Sharla Arledge | PIO | 208-334-0286 | pio@idl.idaho.gov